撒母耳記下 20
1 當時，在那裏有個敗類，始叫舍尸巴，是本雅明人彼革黎的兒子。吹著號，喊說：「我們和達味沒有關係，對葉瑟兒子的產業沒有分子。以色列人! 各自回本家吧!
And there happened to be a worthless man, whose name was Sheba', the son of Bichri, a Benjamite; and he blew the cornet, and said, We have no part in David, nor have we any inheritance in the son of Jesse: every man to his tents, O Israel!
2 因此，眾以色列人離開達味，跟隨了彼革黎的兒子舍巴；但猶大人仍然緊隨他們的君王，由約旦河直到了耶路撒冷。
So every man of Israel went off from David, following Sheba' the son of Bichri; but the men of Judah adhered unto their king, from the Jordan even to Jerusalem.
3 達味王進了耶路撒冷的宮殿，就將他留下看守宮殿的十個個嬪妃，留在禁官裏，養活她們，卻不再親近她們。她們被禁在冷官內，一直到死，終身守寡。
And David came to his house at Jerusalem; and the king took the ten women, the concubines, whom he had left to guard the house, and put them in a guard-house, and provided for them, but went not in unto them. So they were confined until the day of their death, living in widowhood.
4 王對阿瑪撒說：「三天之內，你應給我召集猶大人，你也親自也該來到這裏」。
Then said the king to 'Amassa, Call together for me the men of Judah within three days, and thou present thyself here [then].
5 阿彼撒去召集猶大人，但他遲延耽擱，過了君王他所定的期限。
So 'Amassa went to call Judah together; but he remained out longer than the set time which he had appointed him.
6 達味就對阿彼撒說：「現今彼革黎的兒子舍巴危害我們，恐怕甚於阿貝沙隆。你快去領你主人的軍隊去追趕他，免得他佔了設防的城，由我們眼前逃脫」。
And David said to Abishai, Now will Sheba' the son of Bichri do us more harm than [did] Abshalom: take thou the servants of thy Lord, and pursue after him, lest he succeed in reaching fortified cities, and withdraw himself from our eyes.
7 約阿布的部下，革肋提人和培肋提人，以及所有的勇士，都跟阿彼撒去了。他們由耶路撒冷出發，趕走彼革黎的兒子舍巴。
And there went out after him Joab's men, and the Kerethites, and the Pelethites, and all the mighty men: and they went forth out of Jerusalem, to pursue after Sheba' the son of Bichri.
8 當他們來到基貝紅的大石旁，阿瑪撒也迎面而來。約阿布身穿戰袍，束著腰帶，腰間掛著一把帶鞘的刀。約阿布的刀出鞘落地。
They were close by the great stone which is at Gib'on, as 'Amassa came before them. And Joab was girded with his coat, his [usual] garment, and upon it the girdle of the sword which was fastened upon his loins in its sheath; and as he went forth it fell out.
9 約阿布對阿瑪撒說：「吾兄，你好﹖」約阿布遂用石手抓住阿瑪撒的鬍鬚，與他親吻。
And Joab said to 'Amassa, Art thou in health, my brother? And Joab's right hand took hold of 'Amassa's beard to kiss him.
10 阿瑪撒沒有提防約阿布手中的刀；約阿布就用刀刺穿了他的肚腹，五臟傾流在地上，沒有再刺第二下，他就死了。約阿布與自己的兄弟阿彼瑟，便往前追趕彼革黎的兒子舍巴。
And 'Amassa did not guard himself against the sword that was in Joab's hand: so he smote him therewith in the fifth rib and shed out his bowels to the ground, and struck him not again; and he died. But Joab and Abishai his brother pursued after Sheba' the son of Bichri.
11 看守阿瑪撒屍首的約阿布的一個兵士喊說：「誰喜愛約阿布，誰屬達味，就跟約阿布去! 」
And one man of Joab's people remained standing by him, and said, He that favoreth Joab, and he that is for David, follow Joab.
12 阿瑪撒此時臥在路中血泊中，那人見眾人停留不前，就將阿瑪撒的屍首，由路上搬到田裏，上面蓄上一件衣服，因為他見軍人到了那裏，就停在屍首前。
And 'Amassa was wallowing in his blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he put 'Amassa aside out of the highway into the field, and threw a garment over him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
13 屍首由路上搬走後，軍人就都過去，跟隨約阿布追趕彼革黎的兒子舍巴。
When he was removed out of the highway, every man passed on after Joab, to pursue after Sheba' the son of Bichri.
14 舍巴走遍了以色列各支派，人都不理他。隨後到了貝特瑪阿加的阿貝耳，眾彼革黎人卻聚集起來，跟隨了他。
And this one passed through all the tribes of Israel unto Abel, which is of Beth-ma'achah, and all the Berim: and they assembled themselves together, and went also after him.
15 約阿布大軍前來，把他包圍在貝特瑪阿加的阿貝內，興築攻城的壁壘。跟隨約阿布的大軍遂下手挖城牆，使牆倒塌。
And they came and besieged him in Abel of Beth-ma'achah, and they cast up a trench against the city, and it stood enclosed by the troops: and all the people that were with Joab were battering to throw down the wall.
16 當時城中有個聰明的婦人，站在城牆上喊說：「請聽! 請聽! 你們對約阿布說：來這裏，我有話對你說」。
Then called a wise woman out of the city, Hear, hear: say, I pray you, unto Joab, Come near as far as hither, that I may speak with thee.
17 約阿布來到她那裏，婦人便問說：「你是約阿布嗎﹖」他答說：「我是」。她便對他說：「請你聽你婢女一言! 」他答說：「我聽」。
And when he was come near unto her, the woman said, Art thou Joab? And he said, I am. Then said she unto him, Hear the words of thy hand-maid. And he said, I do hear.
18 她說：「從前有句話說：你去問問阿貝耳，事便可解決。
Then said she, thus, They ought surely first to have spoken, saying, “Let them ask at least in Abel:” and so would they have come to an end.
19 我在以色列算是一座和平忠厚的城，你卻圖謀消滅一座以色列的母城。為什麼你要吞滅上主的產業﹖」
I am one of the peaceful and faithful [cities] in Israel; thou seekest to overthrow a city and a metropolis in Israel: why wilt thou destroy the inheritance of the Lord?
20 約阿布答說：「決無此事，我決無意消滅或破壞。
And Joab answered and said, Far be it, far be it from me, that I should destroy or ruin.
21 完全不是這麼一回事；只因厄弗辣因山地的一人，即彼革黎的兒子名叫舍巴的，造反抗拒達味王；只要你們將他交來，我即撤離此城」。婦人對約阿布說：「請看，他的頭由城上拋給你」。
The matter is not so; but a man from the mountains of Ephraim, Sheba' the son of Bichri is his name, hath lifted up his hand against the king, against David: give him up alone, and I will withdraw from the city. And the woman said unto Joab, Behold, his head shall be cast down to thee over the wall.
22 婦人就去憑自己的智慧勸說眾百姓。他們便砍了彼革黎的兒子舍巴的頭，拋給約阿布。約阿布遂吹起號角，撤兵離城，各自了本家。約阿布也回了耶路撒冷君王那裏。
And the woman came unto all the people with her wisdom; and they cut off the head of Sheba' the son of Bichri, and cast it down to Joab: and he blew the cornet, and they scattered themselves from the city, every man to his tents. And Joab returned to Jerusalem unto the king.
23 約阿布統率以色列的眾軍隊；約雅達的兒子貝納雅管理革勒提人和培肋提人；
Now Joab was over all the army of Israel; and Benayah the son of Yehoyada' was over the Kerethites and over the Pelethites;
24 阿多蘭管理奴役；阿希路得的兒子約沙法特作御史；
And Adoram was over the tribute; and Jehoshaphat the son of Achilud was recorder;
25 史沙作書記；匝多克和厄貝雅塔爾作司祭；
And Sheva was scribe; and Zadok and Ebyathar were priests;
26 此外，雅提爾人依辣也也作達味的司祭。
And 'Ira also the Yairite was an officer of state unto David.
